What are sugar-free sweets actually made from?
I was eating a sugar-free "Polo mint" the other day and the question popped into my mind "So, if this isn't sugar.... what is it??"
I understand they use an artificial sweetener (Sorbitol), and Magnesium Stearate as a lubricant, but these don't explain what is the BULK of the sweet actually made from?
A Google session came up with a lot of people asking this question (about sugar free sweets in general) but no solid (!) answers.
Best Answer
It appears that he main ingredients of sugar free Polo Mints are:
Sorbitol - a non-sugar (technically a sugar alcohol) sweetener with less calories per gram than sucrose, about 2.6 kilo-calories per gram compared to sugar's 3.9. E420 in Europe.
Magnesium stearate - this appears to not be metabolizable. E470b in Europe.
Mint oils
I did a quick check of UK labeling laws, and it appears all ingredients must be listed.
So the answer is: the sugar substitute itself, sorbitol provides some of the bulk of the candy, with most of the rest being the magnesium stearate.
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Quick Answer about "What are sugar-free sweets actually made from?"
Sucralose. Sugar alcohols such as erythritol, xylitol, maltitol, lactitol, and sorbitol.Is sugar-free actually sugar-free?
According to the FDA, a food is considered \u201csugar-free\u201d if it contains less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving. It's important to note the actual number of servings in the food because there may still be a small amount of sugar, even with a sugar-free claim.Are sugar-free sweets healthy?
Are sugarless lollies good for you? Sugar-free lollies have no nutritional value, so experts do not consider them beneficial to health. But on the plus side, they don't impact your waistline as much as traditional candy so they can help if you're watching your weight or have a medical condition, according to Joel.How are sugar-free products sweet?
Many sugar-free treats get their sweetness from substances called sugar alcohols. These compounds, including maltitol, isomalt, xylitol, and sorbitol, contain neither sugar nor alcohol (in the traditional sense). Rather, they provide sweetness from compounds that human intestines cannot absorb as readily as sugar.What sweetener is used in sugar-free sweets?
Aspartame, Saccharin, Acesulfame potassium or Acesulfame K and Sucralose are a few common artificial sweeteners available in the market under various trade names. \u201cA combination of sweeteners such as Saccharin and Cyclamate are used to reduce the bitter and metallic taste.Be Aware of SUGAR-FREE Trap!!Why Is That A Big Lie? SugarMD
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